Switch lock



` 1,642,820 Sept. 20, 1927. N. E MURPHY SWITCH LOCK Filed May' 2o, 1925 WITNESSES Q I gv TOR w i y Y Z L ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

NICHOLASE. MRPHY,KOF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN.

SWITCH Loox.

Application led May 20, 1.925. Serial N0. 31,637.

The invention relates to switch locks. An object of the invention is to provide a switch lock whereby a. switch rail vIna-y be locked in lateral ahutmentwith a co-opcr' ating stoel; rail by means including a lockable member secured to one of the rails and adapted to extend through the other rail.

-The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad switch embodying the locking means of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the switch in locked position.

In these drawings, numeral 10 designates a pair of stock 'rails with which a pair of swingable switch rails or points 1l cooperate to form a split switch of usual construction. .The switch rails are provided adjacent their points with brackets 12 secured thereon by bolts 13 and 14 and connected by head rod 15, and, if desired, one or more tie rods 16 may be provided to connect intermediate portions of the switch rails. A switchstand 17 is mounted on the usual headblocks 18 and is operatively connected to the head rod 15 by a connecting rod 19 for throwing the switch to one pos1tion or the other.

Instead of locking the lever 20 of the switchstand or otherwise locking the head rod to maintain the switch in locked position, as in switch locks heretofore used, the invention contemplates a more direct locking arrangement, wherein a lockable member secured to one rail, preferably the switch rail, is adapted to project through the co-operating rail to locking position. For this purpose, the bolt l2 is conveniently in the form of a stud passing'through and secured to the switch rail by nuts 21 and havin a projecting end 22 adapted to extend t rough an opening 23 in the web of the adjacent stock rail 10. A transverse opening 24 is formed in the projecting part 22 to receive the shackle of a switch padlock 25, and by longitudinal adjustment of the bolt/13 the opening is so located with respect to the web of the stock lrail that the padlock shackle may not bepassed through the opening until the switch rail 11 is home a einst the stock rail 10. The padlock will t en hold'the switch rail against relative outward movement by preventing the withdrawal of the bolt 12 from the opening in the stock rail.

As the switch rail is required to lit closely against the stock rail before the padlock can be applied, it will be seen that any foreign object lodged between the switch rail and the stock rail will prevent locking and thus direct the attention of the switchman to the removal of such object previous to locking, whereas, because of lost motion, it might be possible to lock the lever 20 of the switchstand regardless of such obstructions and thus render the switch unsafe. When a train is passing over the switch, which in the drawing is shown locked for the main line position, the position of the lock adjacent the rail will deter the switchman from unlocking the switch until the lasttruck has passed it, thus guarding againstv possible carelessness which might cause derailment.

The switch lock of this invention is of simple but effective character and it' desired may be placed on both switch rails so as to lock the switch in either position.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch lock, the combination of a stock rail and a movable switch rail adapted to co-operate therewith, a threaded bolt disosed on one of said rails and having a projecting part adapted to pass through the other of said rails, there being an opening in the projecting part of said bolt for receiving a locking member only when said rails are in abutting position, and means including a nut on said bolt permitting a longitudinal adjustment of said bolt for adjust-ing the relative position of the opening therein with respect to the outer side of the `Eail receiving the projecting part of said olt.

2. In a switch lock, the combination of a stock rail and a movable switch rail adapted to co-operate therewith, a threaded bolt passingthrough one of said rails and having a, projecting part adapted to pass through the other of said rails, there being an opening in the projecting part of said bolt for receiving a. locking member only when said rails are in an abutting position, and spaced nuts clampingly securing said bolt on one of said rails and permitting a. longitudinal adjustment of said bolt for adjusting therelative position of the opening therein withrespect to the outer side of the rail receiving the projecting part of said bolt.

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3. In a switch lock, the combinfttion of a stock rail and movable switch rail col-operu atin therewith, a horizontal threaded. bolt passing through said switch rail and having a projecting part adapted to ass through the web oi said stock rail, t ere being a i0 an actuating bracket. abutting agamst the outer face of said switch rail and receiving said bolt therethrough, and spaced nuts clarnpingly securing said bolt :md said bracket on said switch rail and permitting the longtudinaldjustment of said bolt for adjusting the relative position of the transverse opening therein with respect to the outer side of said stock rail.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

VNICHLAS E. MURPHY. 

